Nichushkin played two seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League after playing for Dallas from 2013-16. He had 64 points (23 goals, 41 assists) in 166 games for the Stars, who selected him with the No. 10 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.

The 23-year-old had 51 points (27 goals, 24 assists) the past two seasons for CSKA Moscow in the KHL.

"Val very much wants to come back," his agent, Mark Gandler, told The Athletic on May 24. "Dallas wants him back, and we are just very hopeful we'll be able to take care of this very soon."

Lindy Ruff was Stars coach when Nichushkin left as a restricted free agent when his entry-level contract expired. Jim Montgomery was named Stars coach May 4, after Ken Hitchcock coached them this season.

"He is not the same guy who left Dallas," Gandler said. "He's an experienced guy who understands situational play, understands systems. [He] is not just a guy who takes the puck and goes with it. He is a playmaker, he makes plays at every square foot of the ice. … You can see he understands the game at a completely different level than he did when he was a kid in Dallas."

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